While Apple is holding a big launch event this week, Google is having a launch without an event, according to Jay McGregor, contributing to Forbes on Tuesday. McGregor’s sources told him that both the Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus 6 smartphone will be introduced in a Google blog post tomorrow, and not at a planned press event.
McGregor also confirmed much of what we’ve already heard about the new Google tablet. The 8.9-inch touchscreen is expected to have a high-resolution screen — McGregor said 2048 x 1440 but I’d expect 2560 x 1440, a.k.a: QuadHD — and come with either 16 or 32 GB of internal storage. It will supposedly cost $399 or $499, depending on the amount of internal storage, and that amount could also be expandable. Most Nexus devices have foregone a microSD card slot although the original Nexus One did have that capability; ironically, that device was also built by HTC, which is the likely hardware partner for the Nexus 9.
Nvidia‘s Tegra K1 processor is also expected inside the tablet, which would confirm my earlier thought that a tablet, not a phone, would be the first 64-bit Android L device. The next Nexus phone will surely ship with Android L but it likely won’t have a 64-bit chip; McGregor said that handset will be introduced with the Nexus 9. The Nexus 6 — reportedly built by Motorola and codenamed “Shamu” — will use a 32-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon chip.
It might sound strange for Google to launch a new Nexus device or two without having an event to do so, but there is precedent. Last year, the Nexus 5 was introduced in the same manner, for example. Launching the devices prior to Apple’s event scheduled for this Thursday also makes sense from a timing perspective as Apple is expected to launch new iPads later this week.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Google also introduce a keyboard accessory found by Android Police for the Nexus 9, which would be a first. The company didn’t create a keyboard for the Nexus 7, likely because the small screen size and 16:10 aspect ratio wouldn’t have been a good fit for a keyboard. Leaks have indicated the Nexus 9 will have a 4:3 aspect ratio which would be a better match for a Bluetooth keyboard.




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